Will Nikki Haley be the California Screamin’ at the end of Super Tuesday? How a rule change last summer all but assured her demise in the Golden State, with Republicans firmly backing Donald Trump
Super Tuesday’s biggest prize will be delegate-rich California, and a Republican Party move seven months ago all but guaranteed that former President Donald Trump will walk away with all 169.
As the If the ex-president simply wins a majority of voters, he wins the whole pot, after the state party backed a pro-MAGA, winner-take-all campaign.
That will most likely give Trump an insurmountable lead on Wednesday morning, once all the Super Tuesday contests are over – although he won’t yet be able to cross the finish line of 1,215 delegates.
The latest polls in the state showed Trump with the support of 75.6 percent of California Republicans and rival Nikki Haley with just 18.4 percent, while Haley spent just one day campaigning in the Golden State.
Voters in Huntington Beach, a city in California’s more conservative Orange County, reflected that result when discussing their presidential preference with DailyMail.com.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump took part in a MAGA Cruise rally for the primary elections from the Trump National Gold Club in Rancho Palos Verdes to Huntington Beach on Sunday. Voters in the area overwhelmingly supported the former president in the Republican Party primaries
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley spent a day campaigning in California last month. The latest polls in the state showed her trailing Trump by 57.2 points
Virginia Fisher, a 73-year-old dental hygienist from Huntington Beach, said during early voting Monday that she was supporting Trump and Republican Senate hopeful Steve Garvey.
“I’ve voted for him twice before and I think he’s done a lot of good things for us and I feel like it’s been thrown into a bin,” she said. “And we have to get it back on track.”
Voting for Haley was never a consideration.
‘No,’ said Visser. “I just think she is, I don’t think she’s as conservative as I’m looking for,” the California Republican explained.
Retiree Bridget Hawley, 80, of Huntington Beach echoed the sentiment.
She said she chose Trump “because he’s the only one who ever did anything for this country.”
Haley was never an option either.
At the Main Street Branch Library in Huntington Beach, every Republican voter but one said they chose former President Donald Trump over rival Nikki Haley
Retiree Jodi Thien, 68, was the one the Huntington Beach Republican DailyMail.com spoke to in support of Haley
‘No. I never thought about her, I don’t really care about her. But that has nothing to do with it,” she says. “I don’t care about her politics. I don’t care if I like the person or not, as long as the politics are good, it doesn’t matter.’
Couple Michael, 32, and Allyssa Mesbah, 29, both sided with Trump but said they would vote for Haley in the general election if she miraculously became the nominee.
“I think he is the clear leader of the party at the moment. You clearly know the race has come down to him and Nikki Haley at this point. I think Nikki Haley is doing well, but I wouldn’t mind seeing four more years of Donald Trump,” said Michael, who works in advertising.
His wife, a dancer, agreed.
“I’d say I’m on the same page. Four years ago, I feel like we were in such a better place as a country and I would like to get back to that point instead of where we are now,” she said.
On Election Day, all but one of the Republicans in Huntington Beach said they were there to support Trump.
Business owner Robb Segal, 69, said he chose Trump and Garvey.
“Donald Trump is going to put this country back on track and Steve Garvey is going to help him,” Segal said.
Segal cringed when Haley’s name came up.
“I don’t like her,” he said.
Segal said he thought Haley didn’t articulate enough what she wanted to do as president.
“But she always knocks Donald Trump,” he said.
Larry, a 78-year-old voter who declined to reveal his last name, said he previously supported the Democrats who elected Trump on Tuesday.
“He’s rude, but he’s good for the country,” he said.
He had considered choosing Haley, but said he chose Trump because “he’s the leader right now.” I don’t want to divide the vote.’
Retiree Jodi Thien, 68, was the one Huntington Beach voter DailyMail.com spoke to in support of Haley.
“Because I feel like she’s more divisive than Donald Trump. And I think our country needs to come together and not be so far apart,” she said.
Thien voted for Trump in the past two elections and said she would not cross party lines to vote for President Joe Biden, leaving few options in the likely event of a Trump-Biden rematch.
“I hope we have another choice,” she said with a chuckle when asked about her plans for November.